Minister: We Cannot Continue To Outsource Abortion

Minister: We Cannot Continue To Outsource Abortion

1,175 women from Dublin traveled abroad for an abortion in 2016, according to the Health Minister.

Simon Harris listed every county last night in the Dáil and said Ireland can't continue to outsource abortion.

"We need to seek to build a society which accepts our own challenges and realities and addresses them honestly, maturely and openly. One which does not seek to deny the reality nor outsource it to another country. One which does not reject women at the most vulnerable moment in their lives."

The total number of women who traveled for the procedure stood at 3,250

Most speeches during the debate last night where in favour of repealing the 8th amendement while some TDs made the case for keeping it.

In the Seanad, Senator Paul Coghlan spoke out against holding a referendum.

"I always believed that the most basic and fundamental right, is the right to life. Any deliberate, planned or willful extinguishment of life is killing."